Cybersecurity Issues in the Secondary and Higher Education Systems’ Curricula

Svetlana Syarova, Stefka Toleva-Stoimenova
InSITE 2023  •  2023  •  pp. 003
Aim/Purpose.
This paper examines the Bulgarian educational policy in the field of information technology and cybersecurity in particular.

Background.
The massive penetration of technology into daily life and the economy is transforming the possibilities for work, learning, communication, access to information, and spending free time. The result is a global electronic environment that provides new opportunities for communication and interaction with individuals and communities worldwide. New strategies, policies, and measures have been constantly reviewed and developed to meet the new demands for high-quality digital education.

Methodology.
For each of the major research domains (secondary and higher education systems in Bulgaria) considered for this study, the cybersecurity issues in the curricula have been explored, collected, and analyzed. The study combines empirical research and statistical analysis.

Contribution.
This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by providing evidence that in the curricula of non-IT majors, information security does not occupy its important place assigned to it by the current reality of an ever-increasing threat of cyber-attacks.

Findings.
Sharing authors’ experience acquired in examining educational policy related to students’ digital literacy and cybersecurity literacy will contribute to the transition of secondary and higher education in a way to address 21st-century challenges.

Recommendations for Practitioners.
Considering the findings of this study, schools and universities need to include cybersecurity issues and concerns in curricula to raise awareness of their graduates in this field.

Recommendations for Researchers.
Conducting research on IT and cybersecurity literacy acquired at the level of secondary and higher education in Bulgaria could identify some gaps and improve the curricula.

Impact on Society.
Rapid technological progress radically changes and redefines conventional teaching and learning processes in education to meet current challenges.

Future Research.
Future studies can also consider comparative studies in different countries.
training programs, educational policy, information technology, cybersecurity
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